this is going to be awesome.....

Newt talks of a third party like that is a bad thing.

At first I was wiling to support 'reaching across the aisle', because I believe that we can rise above the GOP's bullshiat.

Now, I'm not even willing to support a reach-around.

Fark 'em. Fark 'em hard. Isolate, contain, discredit, disgrace, destroy the GOP.

Yep, God forbid that a fiscally conservative party forms that's not beholded to fundamentalist interests. That's be just a disaster.

If this new third-party's meetings included free pizza, I will take it under consideration.

In other words, "I have declared myself the voice of reason in the Republican Party and trust that most of you have a short enough memory that you've forgotten about my previous decade's incompetencies, partisan buffooneries, and blatant hypocrisies. And let's face it...the rest of the people wearing the Republican mantle today make me at my worst look about as scary as Casper. So get behind me now or you may face someone who's going to stop pandering to your worst tendencies and actually move the Republican Party back toward true conservatism's real principles, which--surprise--most of you who've been voting Republican for the past twenty years or so would hate about as much as you hate this whole "liberal socialist agenda" crap we've worked so hard to make up just to get you out of your houses."

Or something like that.

Stoj: If this new third-party's meetings included free pizza, I will take it under consideration.

there is always free pizza. that's the only way to get students to show.

If Newt started said third party, I'd probably join it. I'd also like to join a P-Funk party because a P-Funk party don't stop.

Rain-Monkey: Fark 'em. Fark 'em hard. Isolate, contain, discredit, disgrace, destroy the GOP.

Actually this is not good for the DNC either, especially with the radicals enjoying their day in power now. A third party could easily emerge weakening the tenuous realationship of the DNC factions and the hypocite GOP voters. I for one welcome it.

Brains, bullets, boobies, beer, and bacon. Vote Farkitarian!

Browncoat: Newt talks of a third party like that is a bad thing.

To him, being a Republican, it is.

And that's a bad thing how? The current GOP needs to be replaced.

But I too would join a P-Funk party because I wish to be funkified.

burndtdan

Wow, Peter Falk has really let himself go...

"Remember, everything Obama's doing, Bush started last year," he said. "If you're going to talk about big spending, the mistakes of the Bush administration last year are fully as bad as the mistakes of Obama's first two, three months."

Look at Newt, telling it like it is. Refreshing from the GOP

I am in favor of ANY third party, even if it's a "I Hate what_now" party. Right now, we're polarized between two extremes, and the reasonable people have to decide which extreme disgusts them less.

A third party, REGARDLESS of it's goals, would be good for this country, as it would force us to have a dialouge about issues instead of saying "Well you have an R- so you think this."

Can we start the 2012 GOP Primaries right now? It's too much fun.

DamnYankees: Can we start the 2012 GOP Primaries right now? It's too much fun.

Give it another three months or so. You know, when the 2012 election cycle begins.

OregonVet: Actually this is not good for the DNC either, especially with the radicals enjoying their day in power now. A third party could easily emerge weakening the tenuous realationship of the DNC factions and the hypocite GOP voters. I for one welcome it.

I'd like to see the Libertarian Party replace the Republican Party.

Then I'd like to see the Progressive Party make a comeback and replace the Democratic Party.

But first thing's first: the Republican Party should disintegrate.

what_now: A third party, REGARDLESS of it's goals, would be good for this country, as it would force us to have a dialouge about issues instead of saying "Well you have an R- so you think this."

Unfortunately it will be highly unlikely that one will ever develop given the way our electoral system is set up.

Proportional representation FTW!

OregonVet: Actually this is not good for the DNC either, especially with the radicals enjoying their day in power now. A third party could easily emerge weakening the tenuous realationship of the DNC factions and the hypocite GOP voters. I for one welcome it.

This is more of a theoretical problem than a real one, right now. Think of just 2012 - a third party would actually fracture the GOP. But how many Democrats, of any variety, dislike Obama? Dude is beloved by the Democratic party members, and for good reasons. I don't see a 3rd party hurting Democrats until 2016 at the earliest.

KaponoFor3: what_now: A third party, REGARDLESS of it's goals, would be good for this country, as it would force us to have a dialouge about issues instead of saying "Well you have an R- so you think this."

Unfortunately it will be highly unlikely that one will ever develop given the way our electoral system is set up.

Proportional representation FTW!

One thing I never understood is why all 50 states have the exact same form of government. Why doesn't one of the states have a Parliamentary government? I think if a state did that it would serve as a model which would help 3rd parties grow.

burndtdan: i89.photobucket.com

Is that what Peter Falk looks like now?

Lando Lincoln: I'd like to see the Libertarian Party replace the Republican Party.

Then I'd like to see the Progressive Party make a comeback and replace the Democratic Party.

But see, those are just names. If you change the name of the Republican Party to the Libertarian party, and Democratic to Progressive, you still have two groups of people lumped together under a giant tent.

Right now, the GOP is made up of people who are facepalming all day, and idiots. And while it's rainbows and puppy dogs at the DNC, Obama can only hold the party together with his bare hands for 8 years. Politics is cyclical, and I can guarantee you the Democrats will put up another John Kerry in my lifetime, and not understand why they lose.

If we had a third party, we could siphon off some of the crazy from BOTH parties.

DamnYankees: One thing I never understood is why all 50 states have the exact same form of government. Why doesn't one of the states have a Parliamentary government? I think if a state did that it would serve as a model which would help 3rd parties grow.

State governments are like the NFL -- copycats. That's why the whole "laboratory of democracy" thing is true. I think it'd be a great idea for some state to give this a try, but only if they allow Governor Question Time to be televised as well.

KaponoFor3: State governments are like the NFL -- copycats. That's why the whole "laboratory of democracy" thing is true.

Seems the opposite. No one wants to try anything different except in very marginal policy areas.

Rain-Monkey: Fark 'em. Fark 'em hard. Isolate, contain, discredit, disgrace, destroy the GOP.

So... the Overwatch party?

Lando Lincoln: OregonVet: Actually this is not good for the DNC either, especially with the radicals enjoying their day in power now. A third party could easily emerge weakening the tenuous realationship of the DNC factions and the hypocite GOP voters. I for one welcome it.

I'd like to see the Libertarian Party replace the Republican Party.

Then I'd like to see the Progressive Party make a comeback and replace the Democratic Party.

But first thing's first: the Republican Party should disintegrate.

Yes. Let's polarize the electorate in this country even more.

what_now: But see, those are just names. If you change the name of the Republican Party to the Libertarian party, and Democratic to Progressive, you still have two groups of people lumped together under a giant tent.

Right now, the GOP is made up of people who are facepalming all day, and idiots. And while it's rainbows and puppy dogs at the DNC, Obama can only hold the party together with his bare hands for 8 years. Politics is cyclical, and I can guarantee you the Democrats will put up another John Kerry in my lifetime, and not understand why they lose.

If we had a third party, we could siphon off some of the crazy from BOTH parties.

I'd also like to see more parties have voices in the system too. I'd like to see the Greens and the Constitution Party be out there as well. But all in due time. The GOP is the weakest link, so they should go first.

Lando Lincoln: I'd like to see the Greens and the Constitution Party be out there as well.

The Constitution people are the far far right Christians, right? I'm cool with that. We could have all four parties, and the GOP could send them Sarah Palin et all, and the Democrats could give the filthy hippies to the Green party.

Any new Third party is going to grow from the Conservative side of the political spectrum and will represent a split between the religious conservatives and the free market conservatives. Neither side is going to be able to muster the base of supporters necessary to be a major player nationally for at least a generation.

This is because there is no national issue like Slavery to pull support from both parties, as what happened when the Whig party broke up along pro and anti-slavery lines to be replaced by the anti-slavery Republican Party.

So Newt in a way is correct, but he needs to broaden his scope. If the Republicans don't get their act together then Conservatism as a political force will be out of power for a generation or more.

Code_Archeologist: This is because there is no national issue like Slavery to pull support from both parties, as what happened when the Whig party broke up along pro and anti-slavery lines to be replaced by the anti-slavery Republican Party

Don't speak too soon. What happens if a major terrorist attack happens during Obama's first term and Obama's reaction is non-military? There are still quite a few Democrats who have no problem using our military to stomp out guys we don't like (just look at the authorization of force vote).

There's plenty of things that could come up that could splinter the Democrats. Let's say Obama's plan to rebound the economy doesn't make things better two years from now (or even makes things worse). You think Democratic Congressmen, who will be getting heat from their constituents for the shiatty economy, won't start pointing fingers?

That's the thing about the GOP -- they generally were considered pretty well disciplined, even to the end of Bush's administration. The Democratic electorate is sooooo much more fractured on an ideological level than the GOP, it's just a question of what event is it going to take to bring that fracture to light. Look at the infighting that already goes on. Wait till shiat hits the fan and then we'll see what happens.

OregonVet: Actually this is not good for the DNC either, especially with the radicals enjoying their day in power now.

KaponoFor3: Don't speak too soon. What happens if a major terrorist attack happens during Obama's first term and Obama's reaction is non-military?

Look, Obama is not going to hesitate to use our military if necessary, he just will make sure he doesn't invade the wrong farking country because he has Daddy issues.

TO BATTLE!

KaponoFor3: That's the thing about the GOP -- they generally were considered pretty well disciplined, even to the end of Bush's administration. The Democratic electorate is sooooo much more fractured on an ideological level than the GOP, it's just a question of what event is it going to take to bring that fracture to light. Look at the infighting that already goes on. Wait till shiat hits the fan and then we'll see what happens.

I'd say you were painting the picture for multiple meltdown, if it weren't for the 23%ers. The GOP could regain power simply due to fractiousness amongst their opponents. And in the next five years, that'd be terrifying, as the GOP would take it as a mandate to march forward toward right-wing totalitarianism.

DamnYankees: Dude is beloved by the Democratic party members, and for good reasons. I don't see a 3rd party hurting Democrats until 2016 at the earliest.

I do. I think Obama is too far left and there's a lot of fiscally conservative democrats just waiting for a good party to emerge. I live in the rust belt and a lot, for example, are unhappy with what's going on at GM. On the GOP side, there's too many who've been voting along with bible thumpers for far too long. I see a third party taking from both the DNC and GOP. There's simply not enough disgruntled GOPers to pull it off without some help from non-socialist democrats.

OregonVet: I do. I think Obama is too far left and there's a lot of fiscally conservative democrats just waiting for a good party to emerge. I live in the rust belt and a lot, for example, are unhappy with what's going on at GM. On the GOP side, there's too many who've been voting along with bible thumpers for far too long. I see a third party taking from both the DNC and GOP. There's simply not enough disgruntled GOPers to pull it off without some help from non-socialist democrats.

I understand you believe this, but its not supported by evidence. Obama's approval rating among Democrats is about 90%.

KaponoFor3: Don't speak too soon. What happens if a major terrorist attack happens during Obama's first term and Obama's reaction is non-military? There are still quite a few Democrats who have no problem using our military to stomp out guys we don't like (just look at the authorization of force vote).

That is a big "what if", and not something that the Republicans should be hoping for to guide them out of the political wilderness. The Republicans are going to need to resolve their religious/free-market schism (if it can be resolved), and find a leader that can grow their base instead of just motivating the true believers.

DamnYankees: Obama's approval rating among Democrats is about 90%.

Yah, well I didn't trust Bush's approval rating until it dipped below 50%. I think this past election was a perfect storm for the DNC and given a vialble candidate there's a bunch from both sides ready to jump ship. It's early. Time will tell.

The GOP primaries are going to be a hoot.

came here for the laughs, and left pleased.

Thank you for that, "republicans are out for at least a generation" comment.

I bet you feel pretty good, sitting where you are, in the privacy of your little cube actin like you go to Republican meetings and it's an empty room.

We are having a very public debate about who we are. We've lost 2 election cycles nationally because we acted too much like democrats. Now that there are REAL democrats in power, you have helped us tremendously in the internal debates. Why don't we have the MexicanAmerican vote? they are socially very much like republicans and McCain was dog on a good immigration policy but we had a faction of the party that wanted to shoot illegal border crossers. We can solve that. Abortion? again we don't like it, you do, it's the law. Personally I think we spend too much time worrying about it, but we do have a huge free, self organized voting block that is single issue about abortion. We didn't do that one well either.

We don't care if you hate Bush. We just don't, but we are grateful to the President, he's helping us codify the things we are not.

Chindit: We've lost 2 election cycles nationally because we acted too much like democrats.

This is a very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very odd statement.

Chindit: Why don't we have the MexicanAmerican vote? they are socially very much like republicans and McCain was dog on a good immigration policy but we had a faction of the party that wanted to shoot illegal border crossers. We can solve that.

How?

Chindit: Abortion? again we don't like it, you do, it's the law. Personally I think we spend too much time worrying about it, but we do have a huge free, self organized voting block that is single issue about abortion. We didn't do that one well either.

How do you deal with that voting block, then?

Chindit: We are having a very public debate about who we are. We've lost 2 election cycles nationally because we acted too much like democrats. Now that there are REAL democrats in power, you have helped us tremendously in the internal debates. Why don't we have the MexicanAmerican vote? they are socially very much like republicans and McCain was dog on a good immigration policy but we had a faction of the party that wanted to shoot illegal border crossers. We can solve that. Abortion? again we don't like it, you do, it's the law. Personally I think we spend too much time worrying about it, but we do have a huge free, self organized voting block that is single issue about abortion. We didn't do that one well either.

The Republicans lost two election cycles because of corruption, an internally inconsistent ideological philosophy, and an inability to govern from competence instead of partisan favor.

All of the good leaders of the Republican party are retiring, already retired, or dead. All that you are left with are the clowns (Limbaugh, Hannity, Coulter, et. al.) and the hucksters (Steele, Boehner, Cantor, et. al.) to run the show. And while that might make for a good carny midway, it makes for a piss poor political party.

Chindit: We are having a very public debate about who we are.

Yes. Yes you are, and so far the answer is Rush Limbaugh and Sarah Palin. I'd giggle and tell you to keep it up, but I really think the Democrats will eventually need some opposition.

what_now: Chindit: We are having a very public debate about who we are.

Yes. Yes you are, and so far the answer is Rush Limbaugh and Sarah Palin. I'd giggle and tell you to keep it up, but I really think the Democrats will eventually need some opposition.

Agreed one party politics breeds corruption and laziness. You gotta keep the politicians scared and hungry if you want them to keep doing the work we need them to do.

Chindit: came here for the laughs, and left pleased.

You can't say you've "left" and then type a long post.

Chindit: We don't care if you hate Bush. We just don't, but we are grateful to the President, he's helping us codify the things we are not.

Helpful? Smart? Engaged? Realistic? Empathetic? Sane?

Obdicut: Chindit: We've lost 2 election cycles nationally because we acted too much like democrats.

This is a very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very odd statement.

Not really. Sure, to a Democrat, it is. There was a time that the GOP tried to woo voters with promises of fiscal responsibility. That evaporated with Bush and the GOP-led Congress in the first half of this decade with appalling deficit spending. And the GOP tried to hold itself out as being above scandals. That proved dreadfully wrong with corruption and foot-tapping run amok (not that there's anything wrong with that, but if you're going to do it, don't be one of the ones saying that there is anything wrong with that). The GOP criticized Clinton for his pro-active foreign policy, and then put a cowboy in charge. So, yes, if you are not a die-hard social conservative, if you embrace the idea of small government and fiscal discipline, in many respects, the GOP has become a bit of a caricature - a socially conservative version of the Democrats, or at least how a socially conservative version of how they portrayed the Democrats. George W. Bush was the greatest thing to ever happen to the Democrats. I, for one, am glad he is gone. I don't know where the GOP will go from here, of course, and I remain deeply skeptical.

Nabb1: So, yes, if you are not a die-hard social conservative, if you embrace the idea of small government and fiscal discipline, in many respects, the GOP has become a bit of a caricature - a socially conservative version of the Democrats, or at least how a socially conservative version of how they portrayed the Democrats.

That I'd agree with.